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How To Keep Your Home Warm In The Winter

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. Keeping your home warm in the winter will impact both your personal health and your personal finances. Collectively, these will impact your piece of mind. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Keep Your Home Warm In The Winter.

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There is nothing worse than a cold house during the winter. Waking up, needing the toilet, and being afraid to get out of bed because of the biting cold. Those early morning get-ups, becoming tantamount to torture before you can drink that cup of coffee to warm you up. Trying to watch television the evening and seeing your breath in the air. None of these scenarios are particularly good for your health, and luckily there are some great ways you can avoid them. So, let’s take a look at a few now:

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Your Boiler
Clearly, one of the best ways to keep your home warm is to have a fully functional boiler. That means you need to have regular maintenance on it, and if it breaks down a lot, you need to invest in a new one. Regular maintenance is generally better to be performed before it gets cold, so late summer. This means that it is far less likely to break down when you need it the most. However, the good news is that you are able to get boiler rentals if your boiler does break down and it is the middle of winter. Generally speaking, it is very difficult to get an appointment for a boiler repair or a new installation over this busy period due to all the breakdowns. But a rental is a great way to tide you over should this occur.

Timer and Thermostat
If your boiler has a timer on it, it is a good idea to set the timer to come on at least thirty minutes before you wake u in the morning, so you do not have to suffer the deep chill of the morning. Another thing to bear in mind when it comes to your boiler is to set the temperature of the thermostat to somewhere between 18 °C and 23 °C. Any hotter is just a waste of energy and is actually too hot for an ambient temperature n your house.

Thick Curtains
Thick curtains do wonders for keeping the heat from being stolen by your windows. Keeping your curtains shut as much as you can on those dull days and evening is a must to retain as the heat in your home. Also, if it is sunny, then open those curtains and allow the window to convert that energy into heat energy. This can increase your home’s temperature without using your heating system, and therefore it can save you money.

Upgrade Your Windows
If you have single glazing you can upgrade to double glazing, or triple glazing. Triple glazing is so much more efficient at retaining heat than double glazing, which is again a lot more efficient than single glazing. The home loses so much heat through the window, as much as 30% can be lost this way. So it makes sense to upgrade if you can. If you do not have the funds at this time to replace all your windows, when it gets very cold, you could layer clingfilm to the windows, which can help prevent hat loss. No, it’s not that attractive and can be difficult to see through, but it may well keep those temperatures above freezing.

Insulate
Insulation is essential to retaining the heat. Your home loses so much heat through the ceiling, so you need to make sure that you have the right insulation. Look for items like layered rockwool loft insulation, so you can avoid losing excessive heat through the ceiling. Another way to sort out the loft is to convert it into a room. However, that just shifts the insulation into the roof. Consider cavity wall insulation, draft excluders, etc. All these things together can save you a fortune on your energy bill. It may be an idea to hire a professional to come and look at how best to insulate your home. If you have a lot of nooks and crannies where drafts can get in, it is probably wise to fill these will some form of poly filler too.

Radiators
If you have any large objects that are in the way of the radiators, it is time to move them. One of the main culprits in this respect is the sofa. Sometimes we are limited for space and plonk the sofa where it will fit. However, you may be spending hundreds of dollars to heat up the sofa while a minimal amount is heating the air. If you are struggling for space, perhaps you need to rethink the layout or invest in new furniture.

Home Schooling: Set Up The Ideal Space With These Tips

A key focus of my blog is General Education. Many parents are decided to home school these days. While you may be able to do educate your youngsters more effectively than the schools system, there are some things you need to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, Home Schooling: Set Up The Ideal Space With These Tips.

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Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Many new homeschoolers ask how to best set up their classroom. The options can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions for creating a comfortable and productive homeschooling environment.

Keep Your Mind Open

It doesn’t have to be a classroom! You’ll need a work surface, comfortable seating, good lighting, and storage space. It should be near the parent or home teacher so they can answer questions when not directly involved in the student’s work.

Choose The Right Worksurface

If possible, set aside a large table or desk where work can be spread out and returned to as needed. Consider employing a table that is only used occasionally or for one purpose. Keep a shared surface clean and uncluttered, and make it a family habit to clean thoroughly between uses.

Make It Comfortable

Choose a chair that you can sit in comfortably. Afraid of their seats? So are their parents! Ensure that each student and the adult(s) assisting them to have enough space and comfortable sitting. Consider extra seating for colleagues.

Build Up Supplies And Materials

Some families set up a homeschooling area in a separate room, while others use the kitchen table. Large chalkboards are used for lessons or seasonal drawings. Keep your stuff organized and have your kids help you.

Locate shelves and storage containers for easy access to resources. To keep supplies organized, use a mix of shelves, drawers, and other storage solutions. Storage for curriculum, reference, and library materials is also required. Using an inbox and outbox or dividers can help organize work in progress. All of the classroom resources require a place to live.

Keep Clutter And Distraction To A Minimum

Having a clutter-free homeschool and playroom for your child can be really relaxing. Rotating play pieces frees up space and allows for more imaginative usage. Some toys may be stored for many seasons and only be used for a few weeks. Year-round toys (like blocks and dolls) can be neatly stored each afternoon. Even very young children can learn to help “put the toys to bed” at the end of the day.

Minimizing noise can also help. Avoid background noises like music, TV, and computers while in class. Singing a song between activities is simple and can be found in the library, online, or in our bookstore under K-8 Resource Books.

The Decor

Aesthetics are also vital when planning your homeschooling space. Are the colours appealing to the primary users? If you can repaint the walls, choose a soothing colour like pale green, light blue, or muted lavender. Paint a portion of one wall chalkboard.

Display current academic and artistic work in a visible homemade art gallery. To keep the learning area simple and uncluttered, choose a wall away from the learning area. If you want to decorate a specific wall, use a large bulletin board or cork wall tiles to define it. Have a look at Miss Jacobs’s succulent classroom theme for some inspiration.

Above all, don’t stress if your space isn’t ideal! Follow your emotions, creativity, and experience. Homeschooling is like life. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share some of them in the comments below.

Is Adding A Home Extension A Smart Choice?

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living and Home/Property Discussions. A part of homeownership is making updates to your property if you so desire. The following contributed post is entitled, Is Adding A Home Extension A Smart Choice?

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A home is never just a place to live. It’s also the most important investment that you will make and manage in your adult life. You need to ensure that you are handling this the right way. There are a few factors to keep in mind here and one of these is whether you should increase the size of the home once you purchase it. Adding an extension does provide significant benefits. For instance, you will be able to make sure that you do increase the value of the home, often beyond 25%. It can also give you more space which is great if you have a growing family. However, you will need to make sure that you approach the extension the right way. Let’s look at the key considerations that you must keep in mind here.

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Cost Concerns

First, you need to think about the cost of the extension. You must make sure that you are not spending more than you are likely going to regain when you sell your property. This is going to depend on when you are thinking about selling the home. If you have a deadline as to when you need to sell, it’s important to keep the cost as low as possible.

You might have the money that you need to cover the costs of your extension available in savings. Or, you could need to borrow to cover the expense. If you need to borrow, then you should think about exploring short term loans. If you are looking for a loan, then do make sure that you understand the interest rates and the cost that you will need to handle in the future. It’s important to guarantee that you will be able to cover the costs of the extension for the long term. This will be easier to guarantee if you are planning to sell your home shortly rather than in the next couple of years.

Quality Guaranteed

If you want to see the greatest benefits from your extension then you do need to make sure that it is built to the right quality standards. Quality issues will impact whether you can sell your home on the market for the price that you hoped for. It could even leave you liable to a lawsuit after you sell if it is revealed that the extension was not built to the right safety standards and leads to an incident. One of the ways that you can handle this is by being careful to choose the right contractor. You need to make sure that they have reviews that suggest a great level of service. You might even want to think about using a referral. Relying on a referral will provide you with the peace of mind that you are using a team that you can trust.

You need to make sure that you avoid cowboy contractors that are going to deliver a poor solution and then disappear. You should also be ready to ask any of the key questions that you need answers to. Transparency is an essential requirement when you are searching for the right business team. You need to make sure that any contractor that you are working with is going to remain honest and open to answering any queries that you might have.

Size Considerations

Next, you should think about the size of the extension that you are considering adding to your home. The size is obviously going to impact the price but there are other implications to keep in mind here as well. For instance, adding a larger extension to your home may be more difficult to secure. But, if the extension is too small then it could be rather pointless compared to the rest of your property.

If you choose the right contractor, they should be able to help you effectively navigate the process for a change like this to your home. Don’t forget, if you are looking to add value, making an extension as large as possible might seem like a good idea. But, there is the possibility that you could outprice potential buyers who would have been interested in your home. You might also significantly reduce the amount of land a homeowner has around the property. Do be aware that a lot of buyers are looking for at least a modest-sized garden to ensure that they have plenty of room outside for their kids.

Purpose

Finally, you should consider the reason for your extension. You may have a specific reason why you want to add an extension to your home. For instance, you might be interested in adding a sunroom or a family room that can be used for entertainment purposes. If the extension has a reason for existing, then it’s far more likely to add value to the property.

Do be aware that the aesthetic is important. You should consider the aesthetic of your extension inside and out. It needs to look great with at least one unique feature that is going to ensure that buyers are impressed by the additional space.

The design is also a place where you might be able to cut the costs down. There are various materials that will provide a stunning aesthetic without adding to the overall expense of a home addition like this. Again, your contractor might have some ideas about the right choices.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key factors that you should keep in mind when you are deciding whether to add a home extension to your property. Ultimately, an extension could be the right option, but only if you approach it the right way. For instance, it needs to reach the same quality levels as the rest of the home. If there are issues here, then you will struggle to see the ROI that you hoped for when it’s time to sell the property on the market. You could also be required to fix the extension which will then add to the overall costs that you are managing.

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4 Disasters To Avoid At Home

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living and Home/Property Discussions. One thing you have to consider when owning a home is avoiding disasters. There are some common ones. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Disasters To Avoid At Home.

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There are so many disasters that can take place in any home. No matter how careful you are, you never actually know what is going to happen in your home. Of course, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying to avoid these happening, as you can at least reduce your chances of these disasters happening, and that is worth doing. In this post, we are going to look specifically at four of the more common disasters that frequently take place in homes, and what you can do to reduce your chances of them happening – as well as what to do if they do occur anyway.

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Fire

It goes without saying that a fire breaking out in the home is a true disaster, and one that can be incredibly damaging. At its worst, it can even be fatal. So you will definitely want to make sure you are doing all you can to keep the risk of fire as low as possible. There are a lot of ways you can make sure of this, from being careful with using electrical equipment to taking care with lighters and matches. You should also ensure you have the appropriate fire safety equipment in your home. And make sure you know what to do in case of fire – being prepared makes all the difference.

Water Damage

Of course, fire is not the only element that can damage your home. Water can also be surprisingly damaging, and in fact a lot of people fail to really comprehend just how dangerous it can be. Not only can it lead to serious damage throughout the home, but it might be hand in hand with flooding too, which can be truly disastrous. Water damage repair is important if this takes place in your home, and to prevent it you should make sure that the plumbing is up to scratch at all times.

Roof Damage

At first glance it might not sound as though a damaged roof is the most worrying problem in the world. However, the truth is that this can lead to all sorts of problems, and it is the kind of thing that you are going to want to be aware of if you are keen to keep your home in one piece. A damaged roof could lead to a leak or flood, or being exposed to the elements, and it might mean a cold home that is more prone to damp too. Be sure to have it checked regularly, and fix any tiles that might need fixing.

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Electrical Failure

Electrics are another very important part of the home, and when they go wrong the consequences can range from frustrating to fatal. In order to avoid this kind of problem, you should make sure that you have a professional, qualified electrician come in as and when it might be necessary to check it all out. That way, you should be able to avoid most problems with electrics, and this will mean your home is much safer on the whole.

What You Should Be Doing That Will Benefit Your Home Business

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Home businesses can be very lucrative if they’re run properly and strategically. With every move you make, you should be working towards improving your business. The following contributed post is entitled, What You Should Be Doing That Will Benefit Your Home Business.

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One of the most important things you can help your home business improve is your conversion rate. If you have a high conversion rate, customers are more likely to buy from you because they know that what they see online corresponds with what they get in person.

In this blog post, you will find strategies for increasing your conversion rates and generating more revenue for your business!

Making it Look More Professional

It would help if you made your home business look as professional as possible. You want people who walk into the office space or visit you at home for a consultation to be impressed with what they see and how it looks organized. If not, then that will transfer over in their mind when thinking about how well your business is going because of the image they have created.

A professional look will benefit you in a variety of ways. First, it will make a good impression on people who walk into the office space or visit you at home for consultations. Second, it can help with networking because when other professionals see your business, they may take note of how well organized it is, and this could lead to more referrals through word-of-mouth.

Outsource Tasks to Free up Time

Outsourcing is one of the easiest ways to free up your time. By outsourcing, you can focus on what is essential rather than worrying about doing everything yourself. If you are unsure where to start looking for someone who will help with specific tasks, consider using a virtual assistant service like Fiverr. On this site, you can choose from several benefits that an assistant will provide for you. The tasks include writing and editing, social media marketing, data entry, and more.

Create a Strong Team

The first thing you should be doing that will benefit your home business is to create a strong team. You cannot succeed without the help of other people, even if it’s just one or two members. If possible, try recruiting someone who has experience in both blogging and social media marketing so they can teach you what works for each platform. Team members can also be accountable for different tasks, so you aren’t overwhelmed with doing it all independently.

Brand Yourself

It would be best if you started thinking about your brand as a business owner. Your business will not be successful if you don’t have a well-thought-out plan for what exactly it will do and how it will make money. The first step to building this plan is coming up with an identity for your brand.

Think about who you are or what type of image you want to have in the marketplace. What do people think when they hear your product name? What should it mean to them? Once you figure out who your ideal customer is and how this relates to yourself, then the next step is coming up with a name and an image for your brand.

Always Have contingency plans

You may not control everything that happens in your home business, but you can always have a plan B. Having a plan B will undoubtedly put your mind at ease and keep you moving forward instead of getting stuck or giving up. If something doesn’t work out the way that it should, then you can always revert to plan B with no problem. Having a contingency plan will be something that you will need to do and should always have.

Conclusion

There are many things that you can be doing for your home business, such as planning, delegating, and improving your time management. These will all help to make you a better entrepreneur and allow you to grow in the right direction!

It’s A Mistake To Do Your Own Plumbing, And Here’s Why

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and the Home/Property discussions. If you own your home, you will run into a plumbing issue at some point. In some instances it may make sense to attempt to fix it yourself. In other instances, it’s best to know when to call a professional. The following contributed post is entitled, It’s A Mistake To Do Your Own Plumbing, And Here’s Why.

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There’s usually nothing wrong with doing a bit of DIY around the home. The paint on your wall has chipped a bit, so you can fill it in yourself. You want to keep your garden tools more organised, so you can build yourself a shed. There are numerous things you can do by yourself that are totally safe and worthy of trying.

Having said that, there’s one thing you really shouldn’t do unless you’re qualified to do so: your plumbing.

It’s a mistake to attempt your own plumbing; whether this means installing a new shower or fixing a leaky pipe, it’s rarely a smart idea. Why? Well, here are three reasons right away:

Water damage is costly

Let’s say you want to fix a dodgy table leg or a crack in your wall. The solutions to do this are fairly easy, and there’s not much that can go wrong. Even if you make mistakes, the damage will be limited and not very expensive. With plumbing, you run the risk of creating water damage. You can accidentally make pipes burst or water leak, leading to wetness around your home. Water damage is notoriously hard to clean, and it usually costs a lot of money to restore. All it takes is one tiny mistake, then there’s water everywhere!

You won’t have all the right equipment

You’re not a plumber, so what makes you think you’re equipped to handle different plumbing tasks? With regular DIY, you can usually have a kit that can be used for just about everything. When it comes to plumbing, you need a wide range of pipe working tools and plumbing gear to do simple tasks. Sure, you can invest in them, but it’s a massive waste of money if this isn’t your job. The chances are you can’t get your hands on some of the stuff anyway, as it’s typically only sold to professional plumbers. This means you attempt your own plumbing without the right equipment, increasing the chances of things going wrong.

There are plumbing codes

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, there are certain plumbing codes that have to be met when plumbing is carried out. This is why all the plumbers you hire will do things a specific way; they have to go by the rulebook to ensure that everything meets a certain standard. If you do things on your own, there’s no guarantee you will meet these codes, leaving you with dodgy plumbing. This is an issue right now, as it can lead to leaks and problems, and an issue in the future. Do you really think you can sell a house that doesn’t have plumbing up to the correct standards?

Put simply, there’s nothing right with doing your own plumbing, and a whole lot wrong. It’s not something you should risk and you are better off calling a professional to deal with it. As far as other DIY tasks go, there’s no reason you can’t carry on with them. It’s just that plumbing is a very technical thing that can cause many problems when done incorrectly.

How Technology Is Changing The Home

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“Technology grows up around us and integrates with our lives in such a seamless way that we hardly know it’s there.”

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Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Technology. As our world becomes more and more digital, life as we know it is adjusting as well, our homes included. The following contributed post is entitled, How Technology Is Changing The Home.

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Technology can be defined as “the practical application of knowledge”, and in this respect, technology has been around since our ancestors learned to make tools and light fires. However, today’s technology is a little different – we might call it digital technology -, and it’s advancing all the time. We’ve already seen the way that technology has elevated our gaming experience and with websites like retrogamepriceguide helping to recreate those games of times go by, we’re simultaneously clinging to the past while trying to move into the future. Technology is truly changing the game, and why not? It’s helping to propel every other area of life so why not gaming, too?

Technology grows up around us and integrates with our lives in such a seamless way that we hardly know it’s there. This is no more the case than in the home where we couldn’t imagine living without washing machines, kettles, and televisions. But technology in the home is once again making huge strides.

Integrated entertainment systems

Cells phones began life as one-dimensional devices; later, they included text messaging and simple games. Nowadays, these functions are secondary, and the smartphone has become an essential mobile computer with the versatility of a Swiss army knife.

It seems this convenient technology has made its way into the home as well. It is no longer just smartphones that serve multiple functions; televisions do as well. A modern television device is also a computer and streaming service. Using apps, you can also make video calls through your Television.

Uncomplicated household chores

It’s no surprise that household chores have also adapted to the modern era. Washing machines and dryers have been commonplace for decades, but nowadays, you can buy units where the function are combined, offering excellent space-saving potential and lower energy costs.

That’s not all; you no longer need a cord for your vacuum cleaner. New designs mean you can go cordless and forget about the stress of reaching far away rooms or entangling the cord. You can also find AI vacuum cleaners that clean the floors for you while you enjoy other things.

Modern furniture sets

A sofa set is a must-have for every home; we all need a place to relax with the family on the weekend and watch a movie or get comfy with a coffee and a good book. But the style of sofas are changing; you only need to take a look at some of the modern brand names.

These days you will find a growing trend toward corner sofas with pared-down cushions. Perhaps it’s the influence of the Scandanavians, or maybe it’s the minimalist movement that seems to be sweeping the globe. In any case, this sofa type offers plenty of comfort and style.

All-in-one devices

The internet of things continues to grow and advance. The internet of things is the concept of connecting one device to many others in an environment – in most cases, the home. All of the connected devices share information and contribute to improving efficiency and lifestyle comfort.

If you ever wished you could have a personal assistant in the home to remind you of events and switch devices on and off, the IoT is the answer. So it’s worth getting on board with the IoT sooner rather than later because the progressive AI technology will only improve your home life and progress with the passing years.

Massive storage potential

Have you always dreamed of a library containing all your favorite books and magazines? Well, now you can have one, and the upside is that you don’t have to sacrifice any of the space in your home. Instead, you can use that spare room as a study, playroom, or sitting room.

Using an electronic book or e-book reader, you can store two or three times as many books as you could hold in a physical library. You also have the books at your fingertips without the weight, and you can read them anywhere. As a result, electronic storage is a growing trend in the home.

New gaming experiences

Gaming has a relatively recent history in the grand scheme of things, but even still, it has come a long way in recent decades. Advances in graphics and playability have encouraged the latest game developers to reach for the stars, while players are becoming just as obsessed with retro titles.

The modern home has not forgotten about this entertainment hub, making room for multiple consoles in the TV stand and connections to suit a variety of systems. Not only that, you can play with friends online or strangers around the world – there’s no longer any need to organize special gaming evenings.

Conclusion

As technology advances, the homes we live in also transform; they become more convenient and more energy efficient with every passing decade. But recent years have seen huge leaps in smart technology and new apparatus such as smart devices and wireless services. Often, new technologies come into the home gradually, but perhaps it’s time to make more progressive choices.

3 Home Improvement Ideas That Make A Cozier Home

Two focuses of my blog are Home and Living and Home and Property Discussions. There are several considerations that come with home ownership. One of the foremost is making your home as comfortable as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Home Improvement Ideas That Make A Cozier Home.

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Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

They say home is where the heart is, so do you really want a boring, dirty, old heart? It is easily assumed that the answer to that is no, and rightfully so. Having a home, apartment, condo, etc., that embarrasses you anytime your friends or family comes over is no good. No one should ever experience that feeling.

A home is a place for you to relax, feel comfortable, and feel at ease. You should not be walking into your living space every day questioning whether this looks good or that looks good.

So, if you have these negative feelings about where you live, what are the options to flip the script? How about some home improvement!

There are a ton of ways for you to improve your home. You can do that simply through decoration, but if you were really looking to make a change, diving into some home improvement projects could be just what you need; just make sure you (or your contractor) know what is going on, so there are no construction defects.

But what home improvement project should you get started with? Take a look a below at the three home improvement ideas that will give you a better, cozier living space:

Create Better Storage

One big issue that people can run into when trying to do things around the house is just the sheer amount of “stuff” they have. For example, when a parent of two is trying to move a chair from the living room to another room in the house, there is a good chance they step on a lego or some other type of toy. To fix this/improve your home, you could create a better storage system.

What this storage system looks like is up to you, but there are plenty of ways you can go. From building some shelving, to an entryway organizer, to creating a crawlspace, making space for more storage is a nice way to change the dynamic of the house.

Get Your House Professionally Cleaned

There is no real construction being done when cleaning the house except maybe putting the vacuum together. Joking aside, giving your home a deep cleaning is a great way to improve the atmosphere and vibe of the living area. You can put in the effort and do this all by yourself, but if you hire a professional cleaning company, they will give you the best house cleaning you can imagine through intense carpet cleaning and the dusting of every nook and cranny.

Painting

Like above, you can have your house professionally painted; you can also do it yourself. Whatever the case, giving your home a fresh new coat of paint (both on the exterior and interior) will breathe new life into your living space. A new coat of paint may seem like a very basic idea, but it can do wonders, especially if you decide to change up the color palette.

Smart Home Renovation Ideas To Increase Your Home Resale Value

Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living and Home/Property Discussions. When you purchase a home and own it for some time, a key consideration is reselling it depending on you individual life and trajectory. The following contributed post is entitled, Smart Home Renovation Ideas To Increase Your Home Resale Value.

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What if you could boost your home resale value by 5%? While this seems small, that is approximately $16,000 on the average $374,000 US home. Statistics have shown that about 69% of US households have at least one smart home device, while 12% have more. Smart technology is now a mainstay, and incorporating it in your home renovation will significantly increase its resale value. Fortunately, there are many other upgrades you can increase your home’s resale value while adding functionality. Here are a few strategic home upgrades you should consider to achieve this.

1. Revamp your kitchen

The kitchen is one of the important places in your home and can use an upgrade. Enhancing your kitchen with a modern look will improve its value significantly. You may want to consider ditching a dull color for a more neutral one, for example, white, to attract more potential buyers. Additionally, you should go for suitable materials if you intend to replace them rather than a simple restore. Using suitable material can increase your home value by almost 20%. Other upgrades such as granite countertops can increase your home value significantly, yet they quickly build up your home renovation cost. You may have to complete a cost vs. ROI analysis before making a decision.

2. Go for a bathroom upgrade

Like the kitchen, an outdated bathroom can affect the overall value of your home. Refurbish your cabinets and avoid passé colors and wallpapers. Your bathroom can include eco-friendly toilet installation. However, take note that not every feature requires replacement or change. For new build construction projects, ensure to include items that add personality and uniqueness to your home, like modern bathroom doors. You can likewise maintain swan handles and crystal beaded tiles.

3. Secure your entryways

The various entryways into your home are a vital aspect that affects the value of your home. Understandably, a house with weak entryway security would have less value than one with sufficient and robust security. Therefore, you should consider functional and adequate security measures. For example, you can install a video doorbell to monitor and record activity around your entryways or an alarm system to alert you of intruders. These smart technologies keep you connected to your home even when away, adding functionality to your home.

4. Add some energy-efficient fixtures

Nothing turns away a potential buyer than old energy-consuming devices. For example, although air conditioning is excellent, it may increase your energy bills. Therefore, installing a ceiling fan allows the potential buyer to select a more energy-efficient choice, which increases your home value. You can consider installing energy-efficient products like a smart thermostat, energy monitors, and renewable energy sources such as solar panels. Energy-efficient fixtures aren’t only great for reducing your energy bills and improving your impact on climate change, improving your indoor condition and energy consumers’ price risks.

Implementing these home renovation ideas will fetch you a reasonable price for your home in today’s market.

Working From Home: How to Improve Your Wellness

Three focuses of my blog are Career Discussions, Health/Wellness and Technology. Working from home has its advantages. While it was sparse years ago, more employers will be allowing it in the coming years even after the pandemic has subsided. There are drawbacks to it though that everyone should be aware of. The following contributed post is entitled, Working From Home: How to Improve Your Wellness.

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One of the ways that COVID-19 has impacted everyone’s lives is the need for many people to work from home. Once-flourishing offices have become desolate as many workers got told to work remotely using their home Internet connections and computers.

If you’re one of those individuals, you will be undoubtedly experiencing the challenges that working from home brings, such as loss of focus or concentration due to other family members being at home too.

You will probably feel somewhat isolated from your colleagues, and due to “stay at home” orders frequently produced by the government, your social interaction with friends has also been affected.

The purpose of this article is to give you some inspirational ideas and tips on how you can improve your wellness while you’re working from home. Here’s how you can look after yourself during these trying times:

Look For Ways To Relax

It should be no surprise that some folks develop anxiety and depression due to feeling isolated from their colleagues, friends, and extended families. With that in mind, you need to look at ways to help you feel more relaxed and not feel anxious about being at home.

As you can imagine, there are several methods that help which you can pursue. For example, you could consider using hemp extracts from places like bloomfarmswellness.com to aid relaxation, or you could look at using essential oils like lavender or chamomile. Some people find the ritual of making a real cup of coffee, laying out the coffee tools, grinding the beans, etc., before drinking a cup, to be surprisingly relaxing too.

It might take some experimenting, but you’ll soon discover which methods produce the best results for your individual needs.

Stick to a Strick Work Schedule

When you worked at your office, you would start and your working days at specific times. The only difference between then and now is that you’re working from home; you still need to carry out the same work as before.

You need to create a strict working from home schedule and stick to it with that in mind. For instance, you should make sure you’ve had a shower, got dressed, and eaten your breakfast by a specific time so that you’re ready to begin your working day.

Another point to remember is that your time for stopping work should always be the same. Don’t get tempted to overrun and work for a few more hours “because you’re working from home.”

When you create a strict schedule, you will ensure that you have time to maintain your family time or do things around your home. If you let work take over your life at home, you’ll negatively impact your wellness, and most areas of your life will suffer as a result.

Increase Your Contact With Family and Friends

One final tip to consider is increasing the amount of time you spend in contact with your family and friends. That might not be possible to do in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

The obvious solution is to use technology like Zoom to have video chats with your loved ones. Check out zoom.us to find out how to use the technology and set up an account. If some people don’t have Internet access, there’s always the good old-fashioned telephone!